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Dáil talk
State of the Nation: It's D-Day for water charges
Here’s everything you need to know about what’s happening in Irish politics right now…
HERE IS THEJOURNAL.IE’s comprehensive guide to what’s happening in the political world this morning.
Everyone’s talking about…
Water charges continue to dominate political discussion.
This morning a number of papers are reporting that, once the €100 rebate is taken into account, families will pay a fixed rate of €160 annually and single adult households will pay €60 per year, until the end of 2018. The Irish Times is reporting that a permanent cap on water charges will be written into law.
The Government is also considering what measures will be introduced to deal with people who refuse to pay their water bills. The Cabinet will sign off on the revised package today, before Environment Minister Alan Kelly reveals it in the Dáil at 3pm.
Yesterday, the Right2Water protest group dismissed any concessions as “an attempt to buy time”. So, will the new package appease the public? Time will tell.
The agenda
- 7.30am: A Cabinet meeting is taking place to finalise water charges.
- 9.30am: Children’s Minister James Reilly will be answering questions in the Dáil.
- 10am: The Justice Committee will debate “problem drinking” with representatives from the National Off-Licence Association and Vintners Federation of Ireland (Room 2).
- 12pm: Enda Kenny will be answering Leaders’ Questions.
- 3pm: Environment Minister Alan Kelly will officially announce the new water charges package in the Dáil. A debate will follow.
- 5pm: The Seanad will discuss the Adoption (Identity and Information) Bill 2014.
- Also today, the Dáil Committee on Privileges and Procedures will consider the banking inquiry’s investigation proposal.
What the others are saying…
- The Irish Times reports that the Cabinet has agreed to return to a local system of assessment for some discretionary cards, and for the removal of the requirement for people with terminal illnesses to renew their card every 12 months.
- Retired Independent TD Jackie Healy-Rae, who has been battling a serious illness for several months, has been readmitted to hospital, reports the Irish Examiner.
- While in South Africa, President Michael D HIggins criticised gender-based violence – a huge problem in the country, according to the Irish Times.
In case you missed it…
- Socialist TD Paul Murphy stopped by our offices for an interview.
- Mary Lou McDonald was on ‘the bold step’ in the Dáil yesterday.
- A Labour Senator deleted her Facebook page after being told she ‘should have been aborted’.
- Cork City Council faces administration if it can’t agree on a budget within two weeks.
- Ryan Tubridy called on the Taoiseach to appear on the Late Late Show.
On the Twitter machine…
This would be entertaining.
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